Custom Leach Road Trip

harvl · #1 03-25-2011, 02:22 AM

The Road Trip has finally hit the road!!! First Stop is Michigan. Here are some pictures of the finished product. The particulars for those just tuning in: Adirondack spruce top, Amazon Rosewood back, Brazilian Rosewood sides (a long story...) 1 11/16" nut, herringbone trim, "Torch" inlays.

bluesbassdad · #2 03-25-2011, 02:32 AM

What an incredibly beautiful guitar! I still can't believe you're doing this.

I won't be surprised if someone calls a halt to the road trip and sends you a check for $X,XXX.

BTW I didn't know that you use a zero fret. Do you build all your instruments that way?

harvl · #3 03-25-2011, 03:13 AM

Yes, I've been using zero frets for all but my first few guitars ( waaaaayyyy back in the 80's)

Harv

Kyle76 · #4 03-25-2011, 06:39 AM

Harvey, can you explain the advantages of a zero fret? Any cons?

harvl · #5 03-25-2011, 12:49 PM

The cons are the neck is about 1/8" longer

seriously....about the only real negative is the fret can eventually have notches wear into it, but using a harder fret wire (like the Gold wire or stainless) pretty much eliminates that (of course a standard nut will also wear) the real advantage if it does wear is it's much less expensive to replace a fret than a nut.

Some pros are:
1. it guarantees the "nut" height will be perfect regardless of the saddle height.
2. you get the same tone from a fretted and unfretted string.
3. your string is centered over the "zero" location (complicated... many nuts are off by 1/2 the size of the fret slot)
4. ease of replacement.
5. during fret work the the "zero" location changes the same as the rest of the frets.
6. you can't make a Voyage Air without it

Whenever you play with a capo you are essentially using a zero fret.

Harv

sayheyjeff · #6 03-25-2011, 08:02 PM

Looks incredibly beautiful! Very excited to be on the list. Any thoughts on approximate schedule?

jeff

shortymack · #7 03-25-2011, 11:53 PM

Amazing looking....wow! Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to build such a magnificent guitar just so people can play. Cant wait till it makes it out to California

harvl · #8 03-26-2011, 01:51 AM

Figure 3 days to a week at each stop (unless someone makes me an offer I can't refuse... I do have a back up plan though...

)

Here is the schedule:

1. "dkoloff" - MI (Current)

2. "hreboredo" - NY

3. "sayheyjeff" - MD

4. "kendallhadden" -GA

5. "LuvAcoustic6" - Fla

6. "revive" - TX

7. "retailguy" - TX

8. "GuitarObsession" - TX

9. "bluesbassdad" - AZ

10. "shortymack" - CA

11. "longdrive55" - CA

12. "seannx" - CA

I had thought about starting on the west coast but decided I would eat the largest shipping distance. Most of these should be a couple of states at most.
It's funny that everyone on the list resides in either a coastal or border state... doesn't anyone play guitar in an inland state???

hreboredo · #9 03-26-2011, 05:39 PM

This is exciting. Didn't realize it was coming so soon. Should be fun.

dkoloff · #10 04-06-2011, 01:10 PM

It's now in your hands......

Very nice guitar that is one of the more comfortable dreads i have ever played. Quite a balanced sound compared to most like this.....does not have a deep bass to it but still a very nice tone. Loved the neck profile and a big fan of the 1 11/16th nut. Kudos on a very nice guitar Harv!

harvl · #11 04-06-2011, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkoloff

It's now in your hands......

Very nice guitar that is one of the more comfortable dreads i have ever played. Quite a balanced sound compared to most like this.....does not have a deep bass to it but still a very nice tone. Loved the neck profile and a big fan of the 1 11/16th nut. Kudos on a very nice guitar Harv!

Thanks David!

Oddly, the Mahogany guitar that I built at the same time for Rusty Anderson sounded more traditional than this one (Rusty prefers and brighter more balanced guitar... maybe I should have switched them and told you guys "...trust me that's Amazon RW..."

)

Harv

revive · #12 05-31-2011, 03:10 PM

Hello,
Just wanted to check the whereabouts of this lovely guitar... Who currently has it?

bluesbassdad · #13 06-01-2011, 12:21 PM

We seem to have two threads in play on this topic.

In the other one Harvey explained that he had the guitar returned to him for a special purpose. When that's done, I understand that it will resume its journey. I believe it has three stops to make in Texas before it gets to me.

Ooops! Now I see that you spotted that thread.

revive · #14 03-15-2012, 10:24 PM

Just picked this up this morning from Fedex Kinko's. Thanks Harv for the opportunity!

I haven't had a lot of chance playing it -- just put on a fresh set of strings. I'll let the strings settle a bit and probably do a recording next week and give more review regarding the sound.

But what immediately struck me was this is quite a superbly built guitar. Flawless, classy, exquisite, you name it. This guitar is quite a looker for sure... Adi top with some bear claws, highly figured brazilian with tasteful sapwood.

And... it folds in half!!!

revive · #15 03-15-2012, 10:49 PM

Btw, this guitar has a "uni bridge", which means you can turn it from a righty to a lefty (and vice versa) rather easily. Two saddles --a righty and a lefty-- are included in the case. So all you need to do is change the saddle and then restring.

The captive nut makes restringing a breeze... almost feels like you have a "third hand" holding the string while you're tightening it.